Factors affecting the formation of membranous substances in the palates of elderly persons requiring nursing care

Objective To determine the causative factor behind the formation of membranous substances in the mouths of elderly patients requiring nursing care. Background Membranous substances are sometimes observed in the mouths of elderly persons requiring nursing care, and these can lead to bleeding, infection and asphyxiation. Materials and methods In April 2007, samples were collected from 70 patients at C Hospital, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, who were 65 years or older (median age, 81.1 ± 7.7 years). Sixteen of the subjects were confirmed to have a membranous substance containing a keratin degeneration product that had been derived from stratified squamous epithelium. The samples were examined microscopically, and the presence of epithelial components was confirmed through immunohistochemical staining with anti-cytokeratin-1 antibodies. Results Decision tree analysis and logistic regression suggest that the leading contributors to the formation of the membranous substances were the method of ingesting nutrients, dryness of the tongue dorsum and open mouth. These three factors are related to elderly persons requiring nursing care with impaired oral cavity function, and it was suggested that dryness of the oral mucosa was the major factor behind the membrane formation.